Efforts to attract youth to fishing industry amid challenges

KUCHING: The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) is actively working to recruit more individuals, particularly from the younger generation, to become highly skilled fishermen.

LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil perceives the fishing industry as falling under the 3D sectors (difficult, dirty and dangerous).

He noted that budget constraints pose challenges, given the youth’s interest in technology and fishery equipment.

“We have a specialised training institute for the fishing industry in two districts in Terengganu (Lumut and Chendering).

“Unfortunately, despite some coming from fishing families, we haven’t attracted enough students to the programme,” he told the media this after a site visit to LKIM’s fishing port in Tanjung Bako here today (Dec 15).

“Being a fisherman is demanding, often requiring them to be away from home for one to two weeks, so it is a big challenge for us.”

Muhammad Faiz aims to instil courage, passion and determination in the younger generation to engage in the fishing industry.

Additionally, he said among the ways for LKIM and the Department of Fisheries (DOF) to engage with the youth on the fishing industry is to hold various programmes.

“We are actively reaching out to them to encourage participation in the sector. It’s not that they aren’t interested, but recruiting them for more challenging zones, like Zone C and Zone C2 within deep sea levels, is a hurdle.”

Muhammad Faiz expressed the desire to develop and launch a larger, more modern vessel for fishermen, hoping that they can play a role in educating the youth about the industry.